STILL FOCUSEDSmarter looks and high-tech engine offerings complement the Ford Focus’ great driving dynamics in a much improved model line-up. Jonathan Crouch checks it out…
Ford’s Focus now has sharper looks inside and out to match its sharper handling. There’s a eco-friendly diesel option, plus an extra 2.0TDCi unit. What hasn’t changed is the great packaging and rewarding driving dynamics. This car may be common but it’s still a great choice.
Add up all the points when it comes to buying a Family Hatchback and it’s hard to escape the conclusion that a Ford Focus might well be your best bet. For Ford, the problem is that most potential buyers don’t add up all the points. They’re swayed by rivals that are better looking, have higher-tech engines, offer more equipment or record more frugal fuel figures in some variants. All of which, when added to the fact that the MK2 Focus has become a rather over-familiar face since its launch here in 2005, has been costing Ford more sales than it would like. Their response is a better-looking, better equipped, higher-tech and more frugal Focus. Yet one that keeps all the good things common to the original. Make no mistake: if you’re shopping in this sector, this is a car you have to try.
If driving dynamics are all you care about, this is still the very first car with which you should begin your search for a Family Hatchback. The everyday mundanity of the Focus often obscures quite what an incredible car it is. That and the fact that we take this sort of competence for granted. Get underneath the Focus and you’ll find a more advanced suspension system than that of a Porsche 911.
Ford of Europe ploughed an enormous investment into the original Focus and the MK2 model continues to live off the benefits, even though many rivals have clawed back much of the ground they lost to this car in this respect in the early years of this century. The suspension system is much the same as that used in the 1998 model and the lessons learned in packaging are still as relevant as ever. This sublime handling competency means you can get the most in terms of driving enjoyment from any of the given engines on offer, so drive a Focus before opting for an apparently faster rival: more power doesn’t necessarily equal more real world speed.
In terms of driving comfort, there are softer-riding rivals, certainly, but you’d be less likely to want to be in one of them on a twisting B-Road. Comfort is also about on the move convenience too, so Ford have integrated a number of practical aspects from the C-MAX mini-MPV including a glove box big enough to house a 1.5-litre bottle, a sunglasses holder, a dash-top cubby and class-leading luggage space.
"Add up all the points when it comes to buying a Family Hatchback and it’s hard to escape the conclusion that a Ford Focus might well be your best bet…."
Benefiting from Ford’s ‘kinetic design’ approach to styling, the latest Focus takes its inspiration from its larger Mondeo stablemate. Trapezoidal grilles, swept back headlamps, bolder wheel arches, re-shaped rear glass, a contoured tailgate and smarter tail lamps are the key changes. Higher trim grades benefit from chrome detailing and a stylish, body-coloured upper rear spoiler.
Inside, the more upmarket aura continues. Nicer soft-touch plastics now cover the instrument panel as well as the upper front door trim and this is complemented by plusher seat fabrics plus a variety of more attractive fascia finishings. The instrumentation has been re-designed too and, along with all other interior controls, is illuminated in red. Controls for the upgraded audio equipment and two-zone air conditioning have also been ergonomically improved.
The compact control-blade rear suspension helps the five-door hatch model achieve a hefty 385-litre carrying capacity, as the load bay is completely flat and unencumbered by suspension intrusion. In the Estate version, there’s 475 cubic litres of load space with the 60/40 rear bench in place, but drop the seats and there’s a cavernous 1525 litres, making the Focus a good deal bigger than many executive class estate cars. With the seats in place the load bay is just over 104cm long, 116cm wide and up to 89cm high. With the rear seats folded you have a 167cm long distance from seat back to tailgate.
Prices sit in pretty much the same £12,000 to £20,000 span as you’d expect, spread across three and five-door hatches, a four-door saloon, an estate and a Coupe-Cabriolet version with its fashionable metal folding roof. In other words, much the same proposition as is offered by rivals like Vauxhall’s Astra, Peugeot’s 308 and Renault’s Megane. Trim-wise, there’s a choice of Studio, Style, ECOnetic and Titanium trim levels before you get to the sporty ST models.
Engine-wise, petrol buyers have the old 78bhp 1.4 and 98bhp 1.6-litre units at the foot of the range. If you need to go faster, there’s a 123bhp 1.8-litre option, a 143bhp 2.0-litre petrol unit and the 220bhp 2.5-litre powerplant found in the ST models. For diesel buyers, there’s an entry-level 108bhp 1.6-litre TDCi, while above this unit sits the highly acclaimed 2.0-litre TDCi diesel that Ford developed with Peugeot, now available in 110bhp as well as 136bhp guises.
As you would expect, equipment features run to most of what you would now expect on a car of this type (twin front airbags, air conditioning, ABS etc) but there are some nice extra touches. In addition to a movable armrest and a four-litre-capacity storage compartment, there are storage areas for back-seat passengers or the facility to add optional items such as a 230 volt socket or the USB audio connection box.
Ford have put a lot of thought into lowering running costs, focusing on the popular entry-level diesel, the 108bhp 1.6-litre Duratorq TDCi. For economy-minded buyers, the Diesel Particulate Filter-equipped version of this engine is now available in Focus ‘ECOnetic’ form, a guise which features an array of aerodynamic efficiencies much like Volkswagen’s range of BlueMotion models. Average consumption for the Focus ECOnetic is a frugal 65mpg. This corresponds to an average CO2 emission of only 115g/km, which is a class-leading result for a conventional vehicle in this segment. As a direct result of the Ford ECOnetic initiative, all Focus 1.6-litre TDCi variants will achieve 119g/km CO2 and this is regardless of power rating, body style or wheel dimensions.
Flexifuel version of the 1.8-litre Duratec petrol four-cylinder engine can be fuelled with bio-ethanol E85-fuel as an alternative to conventional unleaded petrol – or in any mix of both. The Ford Focus range also includes CNG (compressed natural gas) and LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) derivatives both based on the 2.0-litre Duratec petrol engine.
Insurance groupings are mainly in the 4 to 10 bracket, though beware if you’re thinking of opting for one of the sporting ST variants which sit in a heady group 17. They also struggle in terms of CO2 emissions. Depreciation on a Ford Focus is never going to be stellar: simply take it into account and balance the difference to something like a Volkswagen Golf with the extra discount you’re likely to be able to negotiate upfront. Most of the time, the sums add up.
The Focus needed this wash ‘n brush-up, if only to remind easily swayed Family Hatchback buyers just how good it still is. The smart styling enables it to sit proudly alongside newer rivals, while the cabin now feels a more appealing place to be. You can even buy one and feel much more that you’re doing your bit for the environment, thanks to the ECOnetic technology. Its biggest problem continues to be its own success, with the issues of depreciation and ubiquity that brings with it. If you don’t care on that score and simply want the best product, then move this revised Focus a couple of notches further up your shopping list.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Ford Focus range
PRICES: £11,945-£20,595 – on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 4-17
CO2 EMISSIONS: 115-224g/km
PERFORMANCE: [1.6] Max Speed 111mph / 0-60mph 11.9s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [2.0TDCi] (average) 51.4mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front, window & side airbags, ABS, traction control,
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: [5dr Hatch] Length/Width/Heightmm 4342/1840/1447
- Select the model range below to read a review.
- Ford Focus Coupe-Cabriolet 2.0TDCi
- Ford Focus Coupe-Cabriolet Range
- Ford Focus Coupe-Cabriolet 1.6
- Ford Focus Coupe-Cabriolet 2.0
OPEN SEASON ON DIESEL
Diesel cars with open roofs are a relatively new phenomenon. Andy Enright assesses the Ford Focus Coupe-Cabriolet 2.0 TDCI’s place in the emerging hierarchy
The diesel engine has been around for a long time but it’s only been in the last handful of years that technology has progressed to such an extent that you could conceivably fit one to a drop-top car. Diesels used to be agricultural, smelly and noisy and to drive around without the protection of a roof would have given any driver an insight into what it must have been like to be a stoker on the flying Scotsman. Much has changed in recent years and the development of smooth, refined common-rail diesel engines has meant that open top driving while your car squashes its heavy oil is not just possible but increasingly desirable. Ford has pitched in with their contender in this rapidly expanding market with the Focus Coupe-Cabriolet 2.0 TDCI and it’s a belter.
As well as having a diesel engine, the Focus Coupe-Cabriolet also has another feature that’s mushroomed in popularity – the folding hard top roof. Making this a vehicle that reflects the current leisure-oriented fashion for those with a bit of disposable income. Prices start at £19,287 for the CC-2 model and top out at £20,287 for the CC-3 variant, so it’s not pocket money change but rest assured that this model will be in demand for quite some time yet, thus plumping up residual values nicely, in turn driving down the cost of a typical three to four year ownership tenure.
The 2.0-litre diesel engine is good for 136bhp and is acceptably refined. There are smoother diesel units out there in this class but few that offer this sort of response and broad spread of torque. It’s almost as if you’ve got a big, unstressed petrol under the bonnet so lazy and muscular is the pick up. In this way, it’s not wholly unlike the old Ford 3.0-litre Essex engine, a unit that, coincidentally, also made 136bhp. Even with the roof of the Focus Coupe-Cabriolet safely tucked away in its chunky rump, there’s little in the way of engine din, the wind and tyre noise being a good deal more voluble. Even these sounds aren’t overly intrusive though and 70mph cruising with the roof down isn’t going to leave you feeling as if you’ve been twelve rounds with Amir Khan.
"The 2.0-litre diesel engine offers fuel economy figures that read like a misprint. In a good way of course"
The bald figures make respectable reading. The Duratorq diesel is by far the most impressive powerplant in the line up and makes sixty from rest in 10.3s on the way to 128mph and a combined fuel figure of nearly 50mpg. Backed up by a six-speed gearshift, it develops more torque than a Porsche Boxster S. This means that as long as you keep the needle in the sweet spot around 2,000rpm, you’ll have plenty of acceleration in reserve whether it’s just you at the wheel or even if the car is fully stacked. That fuel economy figure means that you won’t begrudge using that torque at will either, making this Focus a very effective cross country mover.
Hood up or down, the Focus Coupe-Cabriolet is a neat piece of styling. In the early days, most folding metal top coupe cabriolet models looked rather ungainly, with huge distended rears that would open up like something from a Bond movie and then swallow the hood mechanism whole. While they undoubtedly provided good pavement theatre, they weren’t what you’d call conventionally good looking.
Still, the benefits of added safety and security married to the fun of a convertible overcame their aesthetic shortcomings and the market for this sort of car has exploded. While early adopters like Peugeot’s 307CC and Renault’s Megane CC made hay, it took other manufacturers such as Vauxhall (with their Astra TwinTop) and Volkswagen (with their Eos) a little longer to join the fray. Ford have played a particularly patient waiting game and the Focus Coupe-Cabriolet has, as a result, to adhere to a tougher set of customer demands.
The two-piece electrically-operated hard top roof operates at the touch of a button and takes just 29 seconds, with no catches, latches or levers needing to be manhandled. Once stowed in the boot, the Focus Coupe-Cabriolet’s lines are a good deal more elegant, with a classic rising waistline and clean rear deck. Ford turned to Italian styling house Pininfarina to create this model and you can’t really argue with the finished result, even if it is severely toned down from the striking Vignale concept car paraded at the Paris Motorshow in 2004. The specially styled rear end is characterised by unique tail lights linked by a chrome strip bearing an embossed Focus logo to give the new model what Ford hopes is ‘a premium feel’. This is further enhanced by a redesigned front bumper shape and ‘distinctive’ wheel arches.
Inside, the car’s dashboard layout follows the style of other Focus models, but with a different colour scheme developed to distinguish it as a flagship. Two different colour schemes are offered: dark, sporty Ebony/Flint, and the warm, elegant Iris/Camel. Both CC-2 and CC-3 trim levels come with alloy wheels, electronically operated and heated door mirrors, a Thatcham 1 Cat alarm, a CD player and air conditioning. The CC-3 adds leather seats 17-inch Vignale alloys, a six-CD Sony stereo, cruise control, auto lights/wipers/mirrors plus chrome trim oin the fog lights and grille surround. Safety of course is paramount in a car like this and Ford’s new Rollover Protection Device (RPD) plays a vital role in increasing the Coupe-Cabriolet's passive safety performance. In addition to standard front and side airbags, the RPD is designed to help protect passengers in the event of a vehicle rollover. If the system detects an imminent roll, two safety roll-bars "fire" and extend out by up by 20cm to provide a supportive safety strut along with the ultra-strong windscreen pillars to protect the car's occupants.
The Focus Coupe-Cabriolet looks set to mow down many of its erstwhile rivals in the hurly-burly of becoming the biggest selling drop top car in the UK and this 2.0-litre diesel model is going to account for a hefty slug of those sales. It’s a very rounded car and it’ll appeal to a wide range of potential customers.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Ford Focus Coupe-Cabriolet 2.0 TDCi
PRICES: £19,287-£20,287 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 11
CO2 EMISSIONS: 156g/km
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 128mph / 0-60mph 10.3s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 47.9mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags, ABS with brake assist
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Heightmm 4509/1834/1448
THE ITALIAN JOB
When Ford needed a sleek Coupe-Cabriolet version of their Focus, who better to turn to than renowned Italian design studio, Pininfarina? Andy Enright reports…
Although Ford aren’t going to score any points for leading the way with the Focus Coupe-Cabriolet, they might well win some plaudits for doing a very thorough job in developing their take on the folding tin top theme. After all, we can’t accuse them of rushing into this market sector feet first. It’s been more than six years since Peugeot launched the 206CC and in that time customers have come to expect quite a bit from a car that claims to offer both the sleekness of a coupe and the open air pizzazz of a drop top.
Cohesive styling is a must. In the early days, most coupe cabriolet models looked rather ungainly, with huge distended rears that would open up like something from a Bond movie and then swallow the hood mechanism whole. While they undoubtedly provided good pavement theatre, they weren’t what you’d call conventionally good looking.
Still, the benefits of added safety and security married to the fun of a convertible overcame their aesthetic shortcomings and the market for this sort of car has exploded. Whereas rivals such as Peugeot and Renault made hay, it took other manufacturers such as Vauxhall and Nissan a little longer to join the fray. Ford have played a particularly patient waiting game and the Focus has, as a result, to adhere to a tougher set of customer demands.
For instance, it’s now no longer acceptable to have a car that features next to no luggage space. That sort of thing is all rather 2001 and the Focus Coupe-Cabriolet counters with 500-litres of room when the hood is up, although this does drop when the folding roof cartridge is in place. A full four-seater, the Focus Coupe-Cabriolet may not be the answer to the family motorist’s prayers but it’s a lot more practical than its fun-loving agenda may suggest.
"Expect this Focus to become the biggest selling convertible car in Britain"
The two-piece electrically-operated hard top roof operates at the touch of a button and takes just 29 seconds, with no catches, latches or levers needing to be manhandled. Once stowed in the boot, the Focus Coupe-Cabriolet’s lines are a good deal more elegant, with a classic rising waistline and clean rear deck.
Ford turned to Italian styling house Pininfarina to create this model and you can’t really argue with the finished result, even if it is severely toned down from the striking Vignale concept car paraded at the Paris Motorshow in 2004. The specially styled rear end is characterised by unique tail lights linked by a chrome strip bearing an embossed Focus logo to give the new model what Ford hopes is ‘a premium feel’. This is further enhanced by a redesigned front bumper shape and ‘distinctive’ wheel arches.
Inside, the car’s dashboard layout follows the style of other Focus models, but with a different colour scheme developed to distinguish it as a flagship. Two different colour schemes are offered: dark, sporty Ebony/Flint, and the warm, elegant Iris/Camel.
There are three trim levels on offer – CC-1, CC-2 and CC-3 – but all come with alloy wheels, electronically operated and heated door mirrors, a Thatcham 1 Cat alarm, a CD player and air conditioning. Three engines are offered from launch and prices start from £16,822. The entry-level unit is the 100bhp 1.6-litre Duratec, while those looking for a punchier petrol engine will tick the box for the 144bhp 2.0-litre Duratec unit. The 1.6-litre petrol unit provides 0-62mph acceleration in 13.6sec, a top speed of 114mph and a combined fuel consumption figure of 39.8mpg. Go for the 2.0-litre and you can expect a 0-62mph time of 10.3sec, a top speed of 130mph and combined fuel consumption of 37.6mpg.
Probably the most impressive powerplant in the line up however, is the 135bhp 2.0-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel which makes sixty from rest in 10.3s on the way to 128mph and a combined fuel figure of nearly 50mpg. The main thing however, is that this unit is quiet. Indeed, it’s a measure of Ford’s confidence in the refinement of this engine that they can put it into an open car.
The Focus has established a reputation as one of – if not the - the best handling cars in its class and although the Coupe-Cabriolet is being touted as a Grand Tourer rather than a pure sports roadster, it shares the same brilliant and infinitely tuneable suspension. It also features the electrically-assisted steering that’s one of the best systems of its type and the expertise of thousands of hours of Focus research and development.
Safety of course is paramount in a car like this and Ford’s new Rollover Protection Device (RPD) plays a vital role in increasing the Coupé-Cabriolet's passive safety performance. In addition to standard front and side airbags, the RPD is designed to help protect passengers in the event of a vehicle rollover. If the system detects an imminent roll, two safety roll-bars "fire" and extend out by up by 20cm to provide a supportive safety strut along with the ultra-strong windscreen pillars to protect the car's occupants.
There are advantages to turning up late for any party and in this case, Ford has learned from the mistakes committed by others in this sector and not repeated them. As a result, despite tough competition from cars like Vauxhall’s Astra TwinTop, Volkswaqen’s Eos, Peugeot’s 307CC and Renault’s Megane CC, only a fool would bet against this Focus becoming the biggest selling vehicle of its type across Europe. In fact, one suspects it’ll break quite a few records in its lifetime.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Ford Focus Coupe-Cabriolet range
PRICES: £16,822-£20,287 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 8-11
CO2 EMISSIONS: 156-179g/km
PERFORMANCE: [2.0 TDCi] Max Speed 128mph / 0-60mph 10.3s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [2.0 TDCi] (combined) 47.9mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags, ABS with brake assist
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Heightmm 4509/1834/1448
AN OPEN AND SHUT CASE?
Until now, there’s always been a reason to dislike one or other of the affordable coupe-cabriolets but with the Ford Focus Coupe-Cabriolet, the objections start to vanish. Andy Enright takes a look at the 1.6-litre model.
The Ford Focus Coupe Cabriolet might score well on many criteria but when it comes to originality, it’s awarded a big, fat zero. Ford accepts this and has paid the price in opportunity cost for the sake of bringing a very well-developed car to market. While the likes of Peugeot and Renault had their snouts firmly in the trough, Ford was quietly going about developing a model that would knock them into the next semaine.
That was the theory in any case. As it stands, the French aren’t taking the threat to their hegemony laying down and have responded with slashed prices and increased equipment counts, so it’s really a case of paying your money and making your choice. The inherently right fundamentals of the Focus will still swing it for many customers, despite the fact that many will see Vauxhall’s Astra TwinTop as arguably the prettier car.
What needs to be made clear from the outset is that at Focus CC entry-level, you’re not buying a whole lot of engine. The lion’s share of your money has gone on the basics and that fancy folding tin top. Pay more and you’ll get more in terms of brake horsepower but if you want to occupy rung one on the Focus Coupe-Cabriolet ladder, you’ll need to manage your expectations and make do with 100bhp.
The Duratec 1.6-litre unit is a sweet-revving engine but it’s not heavy on torque, which means that you’ll have to prod it and use the gearbox if you’re to make respectable progress. Ford quotes a 0-60 time of 13.3 seconds and a top speed of 114mph, which is reasonable if not rapid. Like all Ford Focuses, the multilink rear suspension is set up to handle the worst you can throw at it, although the springs and dampers on the Coupe-Cabriolet have been tuned to offer a more supple ride than the surprisingly, well, focused hatch. The electrically-assisted steering system is one of the better examples of its ilk, although owners of Mk1 Focuses will still probably mutter about how good the original was before realising they sound like their fathers.
"Even if the Ford drove like a bag of nails it would still bag a bunch of orders."
In the early days, most coupe cabriolet models looked rather ungainly, with huge distended rears that would open up like something from a Bond movie and then swallow the hood mechanism whole. That’s no longer acceptable. Nor is having a car that features next to no luggage space. That sort of thing is all rather 2001 and the Focus Coupe-Cabriolet counters with 500-litres of room when the hood is up, although this does drop when the folding roof cartridge is in place. A full four-seater, the Focus Coupe-Cabriolet may not be the answer to the family motorist’s prayers but it’s a lot more practical than its fun-loving agenda may suggest.
The two-piece electrically-operated hard-top roof operates at the touch of a button and takes just 29 seconds, with no catches, latches or levers needing to be manhandled. Once the roof is stowed in the boot, the Focus Coupe-Cabriolet’s lines are a good deal more elegant, with a classic rising waistline and a clean rear deck. Inside, the car’s dashboard layout follows the style of other Focus models, but with a different colour scheme developed to distinguish it as a flagship. Two different colour schemes are offered: dark, sporty Ebony/Flint, and the warm, elegant Iris/Camel.
Although it at first appears that there are three trim levels on offer – CC-1, CC-2 and CC-3 – the 1,6-litre engine is only offered with the entry-level CC-1 trim. This features alloy wheels, an embossed chrome Focus logo at the rear, four-seats with sculptured rear bench, a range of unique colours (including Acqua metallic – previously known as Vignale Blue), electronically-operated and heated door mirrors with side turn indicators, Thatcham Cat 1 alarm, CD stereo and air-conditioning. That lot is yours for £16,822. If you’re wondering, the next model up the hierarchy is the £17,822 2.0-litre CC-2.
Safety of course is paramount in a car like this and Ford’s new Rollover Protection Device (RPD) plays a vital role in increasing the Coupé-Cabriolet's passive safety performance. In addition to standard front and side airbags, the RPD is designed to help protect passengers in the event of a vehicle rollover. If the system detects an imminent roll, two safety roll-bars "fire" and extend out by up by 20cm to provide a supportive safety strut along with the ultra-strong windscreen pillars to protect the car's occupants.
With strong demand, residual vales look to be firm and the 1.6-litre entry model is the best performer of the range, holding on to 48 per cent of its value after three years. That’s a couple of percentage points better than the Renault Megane CC, although still not in the league of the entry-level Peugeot 307CC. The Ford hits back with Group 8 insurance which will really bring the Focus Coupe-Cabriolet within the reach of the younger driver looking for his or her first smart car.
Fuel economy is relatively good at 36.9mpg, and if you’re looking to keep a lid on costs, this 1.6-litre Focus CC-1 is certainly the model to opt for, the slightly more fuel efficient diesel Focus CC-2 costing around £2,500 more. Unless your daily commute takes you to Istanbul and back, it’s unlikely that you’d ever recoup the additional expense in fuel savings. Where the Ford scores is in offering better economy figures than not only the Peugeot 307 and the Renault Megane CC but also the Astra TwinTop, probably the Focus CC’s closest rival.
The key question when considering the Ford Focus Coupe Cabriolet 1.6 CC-1 is what else does your £16,795 buy. It won’t get you the entry-level Vauxhall Astra TwinTop, nor will it be enough to put the most basic Renault Megane Coupe-Cabriolet or Peugeot 307CC in the garage. You’d still be thousands of pounds shy of a Volkswagen Eos or a Volvo C70. This fact alone will be enough to net Ford a big slew of conquest sales. Even if the Ford drove like a bag of nails it would still bag a bunch of orders.
The fact that it’s possibly the best handling model in its class and is also very well-equipped for an entry-level car serves it well. It’s also reasonably good looking, if a little J-Lo in the posterior dimension. In bringing a modern, well-engineered folding tin top to market for such a modest price, Ford should be applauded. It’s right on the money.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Ford Focus 1.6-litre CC-1
PRICE: £16,822 – on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 8
CO2 EMISSIONS: 169g/km
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 114mph / 0-60mph 13.3s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 36.9mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags, ABS with brake assist
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Heightmm 4342/1840/1420
FORD’S FINEST FLIP TOP
Although the novelty of a folding hard top may well have worn off some time ago, Ford’s Focus Coupe-Cabriolet 2.0-litre remains an appealing choice. Andy Enright reports
Can we level for a moment? Really get down to the crux of the matter? There’s something about cars with folding hard tops that I have a little trouble coming to terms with. Given that a convertible car is all about looking good and feeling good, why is it that the market is populated with quite so many cars that are, shall we say, aesthetically challenged? I can understand the appeal of folding metal drop-tops like the Volkswagen Eos or the BMW 3 Series Convertible because they look the part. The Peugeot 307CC and the Nissan Micra C+C I have a little more of an issue with.
Halfway between the two sits the Ford Focus Coupe-Cabriolet. From some angles it’s a stunner, from others it looks as if it has, to coin a phrase, a bit too much junk in the trunk. Still, no car is perfect and the Focus counters with a sharper driving experience than any of its direct rivals can serve up.
Buy the 1.6-litre version of the Focus Coupe Cabriolet and it’s hard to escape the nagging suspicion that you’ve not bought a whole lot of engine, the lion’s share of your money having gone on the basics and that fancy folding tin top. Things get a little more satisfying if you’re prepared to dig a little deeper and get the 2.0-litre petrol model we look at here.
This engine feels as if it’s made for the Coupe-Cabriolet. Dragging around a hefty welter of electric motors isn’t child’s play and the 143bhp 2.0-litre will punch the car to 60mph in 10.2 seconds. Coincidentally, this is exactly the same time as the 2.0-litre TDCi diesel manages but Ford rather greedily wants another £1,500 model for model for the oil burner. Most will stick with this petrol option. A top speed of 129mph may be academic to some but it’s indicative of just how much the Focus has in reserve when cruising at typical UK motorway speeds. Suffice to say, you’re not flogging the car’s guts out to keep pace.
Like all Ford Focus models, the multilink rear suspension is set up to handle the worst you can throw at it, although the springs and dampers on the Coupe-Cabriolet have been tuned to offer a more supple ride than the surprisingly well focused hatch. The electrically-assisted steering system is one of the better examples of its ilk, although owners of Mk1 Focuses will still probably mutter about how good the original was before realising they sound like their fathers.
"This engine feels as if it’s made for the Focus Coupe-Cabriolet…."
In the early days, most coupe cabriolet models looked rather ungainly, with huge distended rears that would open up like something from a Bond movie and then swallow the hood mechanism whole. That’s no longer acceptable. Nor is having a car that features next to no luggage space. That sort of thing is all rather 2001 and the Focus Coupe-Cabriolet counters with 500-litres of room when the hood is up, although this does drop when the folding roof cartridge is in place. A full four-seater, the Focus Coupe-Cabriolet may not be the answer to the family motorist’s prayers but it’s a lot more practical than its fun-loving agenda may suggest.
The two-piece electrically-operated hard-top roof operates at the touch of a button and takes just 29 seconds, with no catches, latches or levers needing to be manhandled. Once the roof is stowed in the boot, the Focus Coupe-Cabriolet’s lines are a good deal more elegant, with a classic rising waistline and a clean rear deck. Inside, the car’s dashboard layout follows the style of other Focus models, but with a different colour scheme developed to distinguish it as a flagship. Two different colour schemes are offered: dark, sporty Ebony/Flint, and the warm, elegant Iris/Camel.
There are two trim levels on offer with this engine – CC-2 and CC-3. Even the CC-2 comes with 17in 10-spoke 'Vignale style' alloy wheels, three-spoke leather steering wheel, Sony MP3 player and Ford’s excellent Quickclear windscreen defroster. Opt for the CC-3 and you’ll also get leather seats, cruise control, a Sony six-CD system, auto lights/wipers/mirror as well as a chrome detailed front fog lights and grille surround.
Prices start at £17,822 for the CC-2 and you’ll need to tack another £1,000 onto that for the CC-3. Safety of course is paramount in a car like this and Ford’s new Rollover Protection Device (RPD) plays a vital role in increasing the Coupé-Cabriolet's passive safety performance. In addition to standard front and side airbags, the RPD is designed to help protect passengers in the event of a vehicle rollover. If the system detects an imminent roll, two safety roll-bars "fire" and extend out by up by 20cm to provide a supportive safety strut along with the ultra-strong windscreen pillars to protect the car's occupants.
The 2.0-litre petrol model is, for the time being at least, the Focus Coupe-Cabriolet model in biggest demand from new, but that doesn’t always translate into top notch residual values. In fact it’s pipped by the 1.6-litre entry level car in this regard but does better than the 2.0-litre diesel. Expect this car to retain around 47 per cent of its new price after three years. That’s still an extremely strong showing from a car that wears a mainstream badge. By way of comparison, a 2.0-litre Focus hatchback will retain around 35 per cent. The folding tin top Focus performs a couple of percentage points better than the Renault Megane CC, although, bizarrely, still not in the league of the Peugeot 307CC. The Ford’s Group 11 insurance rating is about par for the course with this class of car.
Fuel economy is reasonable at 37.7mpg. Unless your daily commute takes you to Istanbul and back, it’s unlikely that you’d ever recoup the additional expense in fuel savings offered by the diesel and the Focus 1.6-litre is only marginally better on fuel despite being a good deal slower.
If you want a Ford Focus Coupe-Cabriolet, the CC-2 version of this 2.0-litre petrol model is the car I’d recommend. It drives sharply, is respectable value for money and won’t cost an arm and a leg to run. Perhaps a bigger question might well be why you would want a Ford Focus Coupe Cabriolet in the first instance. It’s easy to see why you would plump for the hatch. It’s super practical and is great to drive. The issue here is that coupe-cabrio owners often place practicality and performance at the bottom of their priority lists.
Far higher up in the motivation hierarchy are factors such as what this vehicle says about them and how pretty it is. Those are thornier quandaries. When all is said and done, this is a Ford Focus, that most ubiquitous of cars, and it’s not the most cohesively proportioned one at that. Although well priced and keenly engineered, I think the Focus Coupe-Cabriolet may not quite make the numbers Ford is hoping.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Ford Focus Coupe-Cabriolet 2.0 range
PRICES: £17,822-£18,822 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 11
CO2 EMISSIONS: 179g/km
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 129mph / 0-60mph 10.2s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 37.7mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags, ABS with brake assist
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Heightmm 4509/1834/1448